Northumberland County Show Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:28 | Winning time: 5m 12.60s

A Law Of Her Own^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 121

7/2

Winner of a mares' handicap at Galway (16.5f, good to soft) for Peter Fahey last summer. Hasn't troubled the judge since but she has generally contested stronger races than this, including when mid-field in an 18-runner Cheltenham handicap on debut for this yard last month. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 749408-

The Churchill Lad^h⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 119

8/1

Dual juvenile hurdle winner who struck again in 2m Haydock handicap in the mud in December. Performed well on 2 of his 3 subsequent starts, including when fourth of 17 in Morebattle at Kelso in March, but he needs to bounce back following a rather tame effort back at Haydock last time.

Form: 213249-

Hartur D'oudairies¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 114| C

11/4

Low-key start for this yard but firmly back on track the last twice, runner-up in a competitive Musselburgh handicap last month prior to going on better here (2m, soft) recently. Still on a good mark up 3 lb and forecast quicker ground won't be an issue.

Form: 0P052-1

Not What It Seems^h¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 112| D

12/1

Completed hat-trick of novice hurdle successes in 2022 and good second on handicap debut at Catterick in November of that year. Largely below par since (both in this sphere and over fences) but will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward off this reduced mark.

Form: 23P/33P-

Les's Legacy^p¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 106| C

10/3

Three-time hurdle winner during 2022/23 campaign, including here. Has found just one too good on 2 of his last 3 starts, the latest when going over this C&D 10 days ago, and a reproduction of that would give him a fighting chance.

Form: 44028-2

Well Educated¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley| OR: 106| CD

6/1

Five-time winner in 2022 and showed signs that he retains all of that ability last year. Shaped better than the bare result back from 6 months off in the race won by Hartur D'oudairies and, likely to strip fitter now, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 36336-5

Palm Beach^p,t⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 94WS

10/1

Dual winner over hurdles but most recent success was over 2 years ago and he has been more miss than hit since. Has undergone another wind op and cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 037455-

Forecasts

Hartur D'oudairies (11/4), Les's Legacy (10/3), A Law Of Her Own (7/2), Well Educated (6/1), The Churchill Lad (8/1), Palm Beach (10/1), Not What It Seems (12/1)

HARTUR D'OUDAIRIES and Well Educated, first and fifth respectively in a 2m handicap here recently, are both on appealing marks and could be the two to concentrate on. The latter is entitled to come on for that run and should finish closer this time but Hartur d'Oudairies overcame late mistakes and traffic problems that day and he is taken to strike again. A back-to-form Not What It Seems would be a threat, while A Law of Her Own is interesting on her second start for the Skelton yard.